Mashing utensil



Jan. 20, 1931. w. T. GUTH MASHING UTENSIL Filed March 26, 1950 J Y M. mm 0 man m kA M W n '20 the operation.

Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES.

WILLIAM 'r. GUTH, or BROOKL N, NEW YORK MASHING UTENSIL Applicationfiled March 26, 1930. seria no. 439,003.

The present invention relates to a mashing and mincing fork, the invention being more particularly directed to the handle for the fork. It will be understood however, that the principles of the invention may be applied to other tools.

The utensil illustrated as one embodiment of my invention is used for mashing and mincing food stuffs, such as boiled vegetables .0 and eggs, raw tomatoes, fruits, etc. This operation includes a rocking action and is accompanied by a slight pushing forward and drawing back motion. In order to elfectual- 1y perform this operation the operator must 16 have complete control of the utensil and at the same time subject it to substantial pressure.

The present invention is, therefore, directed to the handle of the utensil which assists in For thispurpose the handle is provided with a portion to be gripped by the right'hand of the operator with which the rocking and sliding movements are con trolled, and with another portion which is gripped by the left hand of the operator for exerting the desired pressure. Other objects of the invention are to provide the utensil wit-ha handle of the type described which is capable of being gripped by the operators 7 hands in the manner described and illustrated stood from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the utensil showing the same being gripped by the han of the operator.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the handle. Fig. 3 is a side view of the handle. Fig. 4 is an end "iew. Fig. of Fig. 3. i I

The present invention is directed to a mashing and mincing fork comprising the fork Gand the handle 7 the two being so arranged that in normal use the handle makes 5 is a sectional view on line 3 3 an angle of approximately 45, with the hori zontal.' I k v i The manner in which the present utensil is used and its ready adaptability to the hand is shown in Fig. 1. The tined mashing and mincing member is shown at 6 and the handle at 7. The handle has aportion 8 adapted to be gripped by the right hand 9 of the opera tor as. shown in dotted linesrand a portion 10 adapted to be gripped by the lefthand 11 of the operator.

and tapers toward the section 10 thereby forming the neck or constriction 21. I The portion'8 is shaped as shown in Fig. ,4 so that it fits snugly into the hand 9, and is symmetrical along its maj or portion. At the constriction 21, however, the side 12 is given asmaller curvature and its surface is substantially flat in order to provide firm support for the thumb of the right hand. .The-side 12'. of the constricted portion 21, therefore, serves to permit wide contact for the thumb, this contactbeing longitudinally concave and substantially flat transversely. The side13 of the constricted portion is rounded so as to eleminate any sharp corners from digging into the forefinger as it rounds the constriction to cooperate with the thumb for the handling and control of the utensil.

The portion 10 of the handleflis provided with a flat surface on its top so as to give firm support for the left hand to exert the necessary downward pressure. While the section of the portion '10 is substantially rectangular it has rounded corners and the two sides thereof are inclined towards each other as they approach the fork 6. The under faces of the portions 8 and 10 are flat and continuous and the portion 10 is largely thinner than part 8 and is thereforeprovided With an enlarged portion 14 which s The portion 8 is longer thanthe portion 10 7' i serves as a border for its flat surface and I provides fora less abrupt change in level in the upper surface of the handle.

faces 16 flow into the constriction 21 and into the faces 12 and 13, While the upper face of the ridge 17 slopes downwardly and backwardly. The portions 18 serve as knuckles against which the thumb and forefinger of the right hand lean,while the other three fingers pressaga-inst the flat of. the back. It Will be apparent that these structural features cooperate to provide a comfortable.v

and firm grip for the right hand andfacilitate the directive control oftli utensil'for the rocking and sliding movements desired;

While as shown in Fig. 1 the banana grips the portion 10 ituwi'll be un'derstood that dependingupon the nature of the material treated,the left handmay'pre'ssupon the flat surface of the part 10 with thefingers or with the palrnof the hand as desired.

By means oi -thepresent invention'a handle is provided'whereby the operator may bring both hands into operation and into proper cooperation 'With great comfort, and to properly control thedownwardpres'sure as \vell'as 'the rocking and sliding movement;

I claim: Y

A mashing and mincing fork,-in combina-' tion with {a handle therefor, said handle havingja substantial'ly fiat portion at the end adj acent'the' fork for application of pressure by one hand and a. second portion at the otherend to be gripped by the other hand, said second portion having a substantially triangular cross-section and tapered towards and'merging into said first portion, and a pair: of knuckles between said portions for the support of the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, said portions! being constructed and arranged to permit the operator to impart to the forka rocking action and the application'of a substantial pressure to the same.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature to this specification.

' WILLIAM T. GUTH. 

